Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in the atmosphere of the center- Patagonian region of Argentina: assessment using pine needles and epiphytes

GONZALEZ M.; ONDARZA P.M.; MITTON F.; FILLMANN G.; MIGLIORANZA K.S.B.

Sevilla, España

Congreso; 20th Annual Meeting SETAC Europa; 2010

Europe Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) are emerging pollutants released into the environment by their use as flame retardants in a wide range of products. Their hydrophobicity, moderate vapor pressure and low reactivity, allow transport in the environment followed by bioaccumulation and induction of toxic responses. The aim of this work was to asses the occurrence and transport of PBDEs in the atmosphere of the center Patagonian region of Argentina at both local and regional scale by using vegetation to infer contaminant loads in the air matrix. The epiphyte Tillandsia bergerii was used at local and small scale, setting 7 transplanting points which includes, urban, periurban and rural land uses. Pine needles (Pinus sp.) were used to evaluate latitudinal and longitudinal transport by performing a network of 20 sampling stations. PBDEs 28, 47, 66, 99, 100, 154, 153 and 138 were determined by GC-MS, results were expressed on lipid basis. PBDEs levels in T. bergerii showed a concentric distribution around the urban settlement. The highest PBDEs levels (3471 ng/g) were found near a waste disposition site containing the main technical mixture congeners constituting a hot spot. In rural areas SPBDEs ranged from 66 to 120 ng/g with a predominance of lower PBDEs (28, 47). Pine needles showed a lower accumulation potential; however a longitudinal gradient with a hot spot (56.9 ng/g, industrial settlement) was found in the Rio Negro watershed (Patagonia). PBDEs levels varied concomitantly with latitude from 8 (Bahía Blanca) to 40.4 ng/g (Rio Gallegos). This result clearly shows a global distillation process of these compounds. In all hot spots or urban sites PBDEs/PCBs ratio was >1 reflecting the general trend of diminishing PCBs levels and increasing those of the emerging PBDEs.